Why are you here???

[Lucky Charm]

So I work in an "upscale" department store. We always have a ton of sale and coupons, so there isn't any reason to spend full price on our "fancy" stuff, but I digress. The other day I was checking out a customer, an older lady (most of my customers are over forty). She was buying a shirt much like you see on those who play croquet on horses (at least that's as far as I understand that activity). As I'm checking her out she's having a conversation on the phone (annoying, but not uncommon). As I'm folding her purchase I overhear her say something along the lines of this:

(Paraphrasing) "Oh yeah, I just got back from the doctor. He thinks it's probably strep, but I just feel awful. I had him do a whole bunch tests, just to be sure. Anyways I've got few other stores to hit before going home..."

WHAT??????

Lady, I see at least 200-300 people per shift. Never mind the fact that most of the people I see are older and have weakened immune systems, I still come into contact with enough people that one diseased customer can lead to a lot of people getting sick. Why on earth are you shopping? That shirt you just bought has been here forever and isn't even on that good of a sale. There is absolutely NO REASON for you to be here. I guarantee you that that exact shirt, in every conceivable size and color, will still be here next week.

After she left I ran to the bathroom to wash my hands, but my throat's been scratchy as hell since then (two days ago ) (***Don't know if it's because I actually got something or just hypochondria. I figure either way it's not good)


Honestly...what the hell?

[chainedbarista]

she's there because:

she's a selfish twat who doesn't give a rat's ass about others
she just CAN'T wait to shop until the sickness has passed
it's 'on her way' to the pharmacist, so why make more than one trip
she has no clue about how her lack of consideration affects others (see first part)
her sense of 'entitlement' allows her to do whatever she pleases
she's a special snowflake

and on and on...

[csquared]

Drink lots of apple juice/cider. Also, gargle with a mixture of 4oz of warm water with .25tsp salt and a couple drops of apple cider vinager.

[Sapphire Silk]

There's not a lot of probably about strep. The only test you need is a rapid strep, but if you have white plaques on the back of your throat, it's strep, and you need antibiotics. You don't need " a bunch of tests."

She must not have felt too awful to shop.

Which makes me call BS on this lady; I've had strep and shopping was the last thing on my mind.

To the OP: If you have strep now, you already had it when you met this EW, she had nothing to do with it. Or you are being a bit of a hypochondriac

Apple cider vinegar? Ick, never tried that for a sore throat. Tried it for a migraine once (disgusting, and didn't work).

Salt water gargles 4x/day will help, plus Tylenol. But if it really is strep, you also need antibiotics. Shine a light into the back of your throat with a mirror: unless you have massively swollen tonsils or white patches, then it's just a virus and you'll get over it

(Caveat . . . when in doubt go)

[Ironclad Alibi]

When you first start feeling a scratchy throat, get some chewable zinc tablets and let them melt in your mouth. This will either kill the virus, or weaken it enough that you only get a mild case of it.

[chainedbarista]

fluids fluids fluids; drink lots of water and warm beverages (ooh, the cider would be great warmed!) to sooth your throat. get lots of rest, eat soups or things that are easily swallowed and take it easy. no need to stress yourself when ill if you can avoid it.

(don't you feel like eleventymillion grandmothers have given you their advice? )

[Food Lady]

If all you have is post-nasal drip, it may just be allergies. 'Tis the season....

[Merriweather]

Please, please, if you feel ill after being around someone with strep, go get a strep test (only way to be sure if it is or isn't strep), and get antiobiotics (and take them until they're gone no matter how much better you feel).

Strep is NOT just another sore throat. The strep germ can do all sorts of things - for one, it's responsible for rheumatic fever. Trust me, I know. I spent almost one full school year in bed. Years and years later, I have weak joints (though I'm not in a wheel chair, as I was told way back then I would be by this age, due to the said weak joints, which tend to get arthritic). But I was one of the lucky ones, no heart damage. Most who go thru rheumatic fever end up with mild to extensive heart damage.

So please, strep is dangerous, it's not just another sore throat, it needs more than gargling or sore throat treatments or just "toughing it out".

[DGoddessChardonnay]

If all you have is post-nasal drip, it may just be allergies. 'Tis the season....

I've been dealing with that post-nasal drip for over a week now . . . as well as stopped up sinuses. I go through this every fall around this time, as the changes in the weather seem to bring it on.

I'm expecting a full-blown sinus infection or cold anytime between right before Thanksgiving to right before Christmas now. . .

Best thing I've found for a scratchy sore throat (besides plenty of warm liquids and/or Chloraseptic spray) is Ibuprofen. Take 2 every 4-6 hours and it will help get rid of the soreness as well as reduce inflammation (which happens with post nasal drip - your throat becomes swollen.)

Warm tea with honey and lemon is always a good remedy as well.

[Lucky Charm]

(don't you feel like eleventymillion grandmothers have given you their advice? )

At least I now know eleventymillion ways to cure a cold!

I never meant to suggest that I was coming down with Strep, just annoying throat scratchyness that made the situation more annoying. It's been going away with tea and cold/allergy medicine. If it were to go beyond that I would definitely try to see a professional. I'm a huge baby when I'm sick and figure it's better to seek help from those who know more than me about certain things.

I was just annoyed that this woman was so cavalier over the situation.

[mikoyan29]

Why do I see this title and I somehow think of Vir and Mr. Morden?